Elongate wall-mounted display case

ABSTRACT

A display case for elongate objects is disclosed having a long hollow display conduit having circular cross section. First and second mounting blocks secure to the ends of the display conduit and include a mounting structure substantially adapted to secure the mounting block to a wall. The mounting blocks may have a square cross section. Toroidal Offsets may be positioned within the mounting blocks or display conduit to support the ends of an elongate object.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to display cases, and more particularly to display cases for baseball bats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people collect elongate objects such as guns, swords, baseball bats, and the like. Many of such items may be sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light. Furthermore, many of such items are valuable or potentially valuable and must be protected from physical damage. However, collectors may also wish to display their collections, exposing them to light and potential damage.

Traditional display systems for elongate items typically consist of pairs of hooks suspended from walls on which the object rests. However, objects suspended from the hooks are easily knocked off or removed by children. Other display systems consist of wooden or plastic boxes with glass or transparent plastic covers. The object typically mounts on a cushion within the box. However, these display cases are not readily wall mounted. In order to do so, the object must be secured within the box by fasteners, which, in addition to complicating the mounted process, obstruct the view of the object and interfere with its aesthetic appearance.

In view of the foregoing it would be an advancement in the art to provide a display system for elongate objects that protects the object from UV radiation and physical damage and yet readily mounts the object to a wall or other support structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A display case for elongate objects, such as a bat, includes a display conduit having first and second ends. The display conduit may be made of a transparent tube having a round, square, or other cross-sectional shape. First and second mounting blocks secure to the first and second ends of the display conduit. In an embodiment of the invention, the mounting blocks each have a planar surface and a mounting structure substantially coplanar with the planar surface and adapted to secure the mounting block to a wall. Locking tabs secured to the display conduit may engage corresponding grooves in the mounting block to selectively secure the display conduit to the mounting blocks.

The mounting blocks may have a square cross section having a cylindrical portion secured thereto to receive the display conduit. The mounting blocks may have an aperture formed therein to receive a nail head. A cap secured to an interior surface of the mounting block may seal off the aperture from the inner portions of the mounting block.

Locking tabs secured to the display conduit engage corresponding grooves in the mounting block to selectively secure the display conduit to the mounting blocks.

Offsets may be positioned within the mounting blocks to support the ends of an elongate object, such as a baseball bat. Alternatively, the offsets are positioned within the display conduit. In one embodiment, the offsets are toriodal shaped structures, which may be formed of a compressible material, such as foam rubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bat display case, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mounting block, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conduit having locking structures secured thereto, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mounting black showing a mounting aperture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting block having an alternative embodiment of a mounting block, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a display conduit having offsets positioned therein to retain a bat, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mounting black having an offset positioned therein, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a display case 10 may include a display conduit 12 having mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b located at the ends 16 a, 16 b thereof. The display conduit 12 is typically transparent and may be made of plastic, glass, or like transparent material. Objects placed within the display conduit 12 may be subject to degradation from ultraviolet (UV) light. Accordingly, in some examples of the invention, UV protective materials may be used to form the display conduit. For example, plastic or glass with polymer coatings, such as polyester, may be used.

The display conduit 12 is typically adapted to receive elongate objects and therefore may be embodied as a tube having constant cross section. In the illustrated embodiment, the display conduit 12 is a circular tube. However, square, triangular, elliptical, and other cross sections may also be used. The display conduit 12 may be a straight or curved according to the shape of the object stored therewithin.

The mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b may mount the display conduit 12 to a support structure to a vertical wall or a horizontal support surface such as a mantelpiece or shelf. The mounting blocks typically secure to the ends 16 a, 16 b of the display conduit 12. However, in some embodiments the mounting blocks secure to the display conduit 13 offset from the ends 16 a, 16 b.

The display case 10 is particularly useful for displaying collector's baseball bats 18, such as autographed bats or those having other historical or sentimental value. Other collectible elongate objects may also be stored within a display case 10, such as a sword, rifle, golf club, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 2, while still referring to FIG. 1, a mounting block 14 a, 14 b may include an aperture 24 sized to receive an end 16 a, 16 b of the display conduit 12. The mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b may be made of a variety of rigid materials capable of supporting the display conduit. In the illustrated embodiment the mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b are formed of polypropylene. In other embodiments, wooden or metal mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b may be used.

A mounting surface 26 is secured to the mounting block 14 a, 14 b and serves to engage a support structure such as a wall, shelf, or another mounting block 14 a, 14 b. The mounting surface 26 may be embodied as any one of the sides 28 a-28 d of a square-, rectangular-, or other polygon-shaped frame. A square-shaped frame may be beneficial inasmuch as it enables stacking of multiple display cases 10. The aperture 24 may be embodied as a cylindrical portion 30 secured within the sides 28 a-28 d of the mounting block 14 a, 14 b. Alternatively, the sides 28 a-28 d may be the sides of monolithic block and the aperture 24 may be an aperture formed in the block.

Referring to FIG. 3 while still referring to FIG. 2, a lock 36 may secure the ends 16 a, 16 b of the display conduit 12 to the mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock 36 includes one or more circumferential grooves 38 formed within the aperture 24, which engages a tab 40 secured to the display conduit 12. Alternatively, the lock 36 may be embodied as a tab 40 secured to the mounting block 14 a, 14 b that engages a circumferential groove 38 secured to the display conduit. The circumferential groove 38 may be sized to snugly engage the tab 40 so as to resist removal of the tab 40 therefrom. A longitudinal groove 42 may be formed in the walls of the aperture 26 to facilitate insertion of the tab 40 into the aperture 26 up to the longitudinal location of the circumferential groove 38.

The tabs 40 may be slightly tapered, having a narrower end 44 a and a wider end 44 b. The smaller end 44 a of the tab 40 is brought into engagement with the circumferential groove 38 followed by an increasingly wider portion of the tab which engages the sides of the circumferential groove 38. The tapered configuration of the tab 40 may facilitate insertion of the tabs 40 into the groove 38 and draw the end 16 a, 16 b of the display conduit into the mount block 14 a, 14 b to create a substantial seal between the end 16 a, 16 b of the display conduit 12 and the mount block 14 a, 14 b. The lower surface 46 of the tab 40 may slope upwardly from the wider end 44 b, such that forcing the lower surface into engagement with the circumferential groove 38 draw the end 16 a, 16 b of the display conduit into the mount block 14 a, 14 b. A sealing element may be interposed between the mount block 14 a, 14 b to further seal off the display conduit 12 from air and moisture to preserve the contents of the display conduit 12.

The tabs 40 may be secured to the display conduit 12 or formed monolithically with the conduit 12. In the illustrated embodiments, the tabs 40 are secured to or formed on an annular portions that secured to an inside or outside surface of the ends 16 a, 16 b of the display conduit 12. The annular potion may secure to the display conduit 12 by means of glue, friction fit, or other fastening means.

A mounting block 14 a, 14 b may include a cap 50 covering an aperture 52 (FIG. 4) formed in the mounting block 14 a, 14 b, from the aperture 26. The cap 50 may provide a space between itself and the side 28 a of the mounting block to receive a nail head, or other fastener. The cap 50 may ensure that air and moisture do not enter the display conduit 12 through the aperture 52.

Referring to FIG. 4, an aperture 52 may serve as a mounting structure securing the mounting block 14 a, 14 b to a support surface. The mounting structure may be various fastening means. In one embodiment, the mounting structure is a hook for suspending the mounting block 14 a, 14 b from a wall or ceiling. Alternatively, the aperture 52 may be threaded to receive a screw, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting structure is an aperture 52 comprises a wide portion 56 and a narrow portion 58. The wide portion 56 may receive a nail head whereas the narrow portion 58 may prevent removal of a nail head from the aperture.

Referring to FIG. 5, various alternative embodiments of the aperture 52 are possible. For example, a longitudinal narrowed portion 60 may extend longitudinally from the wide portion 56 such that a display case 12 may be hung vertically from a wall. A longitudinally extending portion may also provide dimensional tolerance when suspending the two mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b. A user may find it difficult to precisely position nails for suspending the mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b. Accordingly, a longitudinal narrowed portion 60 allows a user to suspend one mounting block 14 a, 14 b on a first nail with the nail within the longitudinal narrowed portion and then adjust the horizontal position of the display case to align the second mounting block 14 a, 14 b with a second nail, while still retaining the first nail within the longitudinal narrowed portion 60.

Referring to FIG. 6, one or more offsets 64 may engage a bat 18, or like object, disposed within the display conduit 12 to position the bat 18 at a desired orientation. In one embodiment, the offset is embodied as a square toroidal member 66 that is positionable around the bat 18 proximate the ends thereof. In some embodiments, the toroidal member 66 is formed of a compressible material such that it elastically retains itself around the bat 18. In use, a user may secure offsets 64 near the ends of the bat 18 prior to engaging the mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b with the display conduit 12. Alternatively, the offsets 64 may be positioned within the mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b as shown in FIG. 7, such that a user will first position the bat within the display conduit 12 and then secure the mounting blocks 14 a, 14 b to the display conduit such that the ends of the bat are brought into engagement with the offsets 64.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. 

1. A display case comprising: a display conduit having first and second ends; and first and second mounting blocks each having at least one substantially planar surface and a mounting structure adapted to secure the mounting block to a wall, the first and second mounting blocks securing to the first and second ends, respectively, of the display conduit.
 2. The display case of claim 1, wherein the display conduit comprises an elongate, transparent tube.
 3. The display case of claim 2, wherein the first and second mounting blocks have a square external shape.
 4. The display case of claim 3, wherein the first and second mounting blocks comprise a circular insert formed therein to receive the display conduit.
 5. The display case of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure defines an aperture adapted to receive a nail head.
 6. The display case of claim 5, further comprising a cap securing to an interior surface of the mounting block and positioned over the aperture, a portion of the cap opposite the aperture being spaced apart from the aperture.
 7. The display case of claim 1, further comprising offsets positioned within the mounting blocks, the offsets adapted to support the ends of a baseball bat.
 8. The display case of claim 1, further comprising offsets positioned within the display conduit proximate the first and second ends, the offsets adapted to support the ends of a baseball bat.
 9. The display case of claim 8, wherein the offset comprises a toroid sized to fit within the display conduit.
 10. The display case of claim 9, wherein the offset is formed of a compressible material.
 11. The display case of claim 10, wherein the offset comprises a square toroid.
 12. The display case of claim 1, further comprising locking tabs formed on the display conduit proximate the first and second ends, the first and second mounting blocks selectively engaging the locking tabs to retain the display conduit within the first and second mounting blocks.
 13. A method for displaying an elongate object, the method comprising: providing a display conduit having first and second ends sized to receive the object; providing first and second mounting blocks having at least one planar surface and sized to receive first and second ends, respectively, of the display conduit; providing toroidal offsets sized to receive the ends of the elongate object; affixing the toroidal offsets to the ends of the elongate object; positioning the elongate object within the display conduit; fastening the first and second mounting blocks to the first and second ends, respectively, of the display conduit; and mounting the first and second mounting blocks to a support structure having the planar surfaces adjacent the support structure.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning the toroidal offsets within the first and second mounting blocks.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the display conduit further comprises locking tabs formed at the first and second ends thereof and wherein fastening the first and second mounting blocks to the display conduit comprises engaging the locking tabs with circumferential grooves formed in the mounting blocks.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second mounting blocks further comprise an aperture sized to receive a nail, and wherein mounting the first and second mounting blocks to the wall comprises inserting nails within the apertures. 